In our blog “Potential partnerships that could help bring a product or service designed for color blindness to market,” we look at who entrepreneurs could leverage the government, nonprofits etc to enter the colour blind services market and in this article we are looking at the why? Why is it needed? First off, 1 in 12 males are color blind and that is a lot of people encountering problems that need solved, daily.
What are some common challenges faced by people with color deficiency or color blindness?
Common challenges faced by people with color deficiency or color blindness include difficulty distinguishing between certain colors, which can affect tasks such as reading, driving, and identifying objects.
Some examples of the challenges that people with color deficiency or color blindness face include:
Difficulty reading:
Certain colors can be difficult to distinguish from each other, which can make reading text or interpreting visual information challenging. For example, individuals with red-green color deficiency may have difficulty distinguishing between red and green text or graphics. There are millions of websites that are not accessible to people with color deficiencies, if they are ecommerce websites, they are missing out on lots of sales.
Difficulty driving:
People with color deficiency or color blindness may have trouble distinguishing between the colors of traffic signals, which could make driving unsafe. Additionally, identifying brake lights, turn signals, and other warning lights on vehicles could be difficult. In addition the road signs are all color coded.
Difficulty with fashion:
Some individuals with color deficiency or color blindness may struggle with coordinating clothing or choosing clothing that matches. This could be especially challenging for those who work in industries where appearance is important or color is related to safety, such as the fashion industry or construction, police, fire services industries.
Difficulty in art and design:
People with color deficiency or color blindness may struggle with color selection in art or design, which could limit their ability to pursue these careers or hobbies.
Difficulty in identifying certain objects:
Certain objects, such as fruits or flowers, may be difficult to identify if they rely on color cues.
Some examples of how different industries could benefit from products or services designed for people with color deficiency or color blindness:
Fashion:
People with color vision deficiencies may have difficulty coordinating clothing colors or matching clothes. Therefore, fashion companies could design clothing with color combinations that are easy for people with color deficiency or color blindness to distinguish. In addition, fashion companies could create online tools to help customers choose clothing based on their specific color vision needs. Simpler still fashion brand could write the color on the label. i.e Jacket body = Red Sleeves = Pink Piping and flourishes = Yellow.
Graphic design:
People with color vision deficiencies may struggle with color selection in graphic design. Therefore, graphic design software companies could create accessible color palettes that are easy for people with color deficiency or color blindness to use. And incorporate color picker technology to label any color on the screen. Artist software like Procreate already does this. Additionally, graphic designers could create designs with high contrast and large fonts to ensure readability for people with color vision deficiencies.
Color Blind Software Champions
Transportation:
People with color vision deficiencies may have difficulty distinguishing between traffic signals, which could lead to dangerous situations while driving. Therefore, transportation companies could design traffic signals with more distinct colors or shapes, or incorporate other visual cues, such as sound or vibration, to indicate the status of the signal. In addition, companies that produce vehicles could create warning lights and dashboard displays that are easier for people with color deficiency or color blindness to interpret.
Trains, Planes and buses could also incorporate better color schemes. Easy Jet in Europe, their color scheme made it almost impossible for me to find my seat. It was orange against a red or brown background. I thought they had not labelled the seats. I walked up and down the aisle, looking like a madman, until I asked someone for help? The numbers were indeed in plain sight. That is plain sight for someone with perfect color vision.
Digital media:
People with color vision deficiencies may struggle with digital displays that are not designed with their needs in mind. Therefore, companies that produce digital displays, such as computer monitors, televisions, and smartphones, could incorporate color correction settings or alternative color palettes that are optimized for people with color deficiency or color blindness. This could make digital media more accessible and enjoyable for people with color vision deficiencies. Samsung already does this, we recommend Samsung products.
Healthcare:
In healthcare, color vision deficiencies can affect the ability to read medical charts and identify the color of medication. Therefore, healthcare companies could create accessible medical charts and labeling for medication, with high-contrast text and symbols. In addition, they could develop mobile apps to help patients identify their medication by scanning the barcode or using augmented reality technology.
Education:
People with color vision deficiencies may struggle with color-coded educational materials, such as graphs and charts. Therefore, education companies could create accessible versions of these materials, with alternative color palettes or textures that are easier for people with color deficiency or color blindness to interpret. In addition, they could provide online tools for students and teachers to adjust the color scheme of educational materials.
Art and entertainment:
People with color vision deficiencies may face challenges in appreciating art and entertainment that rely heavily on color, such as paintings, movies, and video games. Therefore, companies in these industries could create alternative versions of their products that are optimized for people with color vision deficiencies, with alternative color schemes, textures, or sound effects. They could also create digital filters or tools that allow users to adjust the color spectrum to match their individual vision. Bad guys have red eyes, everyone knows that. Well, demonic red eyes means nothing to someone who is red/Green deficient!
Advertising and marketing:
Advertising and marketing companies could benefit from creating campaigns that are designed to be more inclusive for people with color vision deficiencies. This could involve using alternative color schemes or alternative visual cues, such as shapes or textures, to convey messages. In addition, they could use online tools to test the accessibility of their campaigns for people with color vision deficiencies. Mess it up and 1 in 12 of your male audience may not be able to interact with the advert.
Conclusion – How different industries could benefit from products or services designed for people with color deficiency or color blindness.
Overall, there are many industries that could benefit from products or services designed for people with color deficiency or color blindness. By creating accessible designs and products, businesses can help improve the quality of life, user experience and increase inclusivity for people with color vision deficiencies.